§ Mr. DawsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the pay, conditions, training and qualifications of residential social workers working with children in care. [44550]
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§ Mr. BoatengThe pay and conditions of all staff are matters for their individual employers.
We are jointly with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work developing a new post qualifying award in child care and the relevant training for that award. In addition, we have put aside £2 million in 1998–99 to secure the training of significant numbers of child care staff leading to national vocational qualification in care at level III.